1998 to 2000 4x4 Rangers had PVH(pulse vacuum hubs) up front, they were a bad idea from the start, failed to lock or unlock.
Starting in 1999 Ford started switching Ranger 4x4s over to "Live Axle", front axle was always connected to front hub, so full time lock
So you could have either in a 2000 Ranger, hopefully Live Axle, if PVH and it hasn't been changed to Manual Hubs then budget for that project, Rugged Ridge/AVM are the only hubs that fit on PVH hubs.
2001 and up Rangers were all Live Axle
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